Spaghetti wrapping machine



July 29, 1952 M. KLIMAS SPAGHETTI WRAPPING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 8, 1948 R s W M W N n n Q s f1 \l.\ I 1 J 17.. lill I I, NI QN II a M WIIIi Mm I I H wv QN \N\ IMU I. W I I 4 I N I IM I e \J EN y UW Q IPHI .H M I. w FFIWIII. ww N%\ ,.4 .w I ,I IIL V A\ July 29, v1952 M. KLlMAs Y SPAGHETTI WRAPPING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filedy Jan. 8, 1948 1N VENTOR Mwmw 7114105 HTTO'RN EYS M. KLIMAS SPAGHETTI WRAPPING MACHINE?A July 29, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 8, 1948 l. N iil. m i. .\H Qa l if ST. Wm. .r a w ;:m: z @L July 29, 1952v M. KLIMAS 2,604,744

SPAGHETTI WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Jan. 8, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 u l I ai 4L mmm!!! mw INVENTOR N Ma'hmf Klimas YBYCMnffM,

\ Y nTmRNEYs July 29, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 8, 1948 INVENTOR Patented July Z9, 1951? sPAeHE'r'ri WRAPPING MACHINE Matthew 'Klimas, :Richmond Hill, N. Y., assigner fto A. Zeregas Sons, Inc.,.a corporation of New 'York Application January s, 1948, serial-N0. ,1,105

The present inventionrelatesto the V packaging 'of'spaghettiand 'more'.particularly :to [a machine for Wrapping spaghetti in cellophane or waxed paper. y Spaghetti and similar products have customarily been marketedindcardbcard iboxes llined with waxed paper and... `to'some extent, Yinlbulk and in other forms. Therehasbeen'fora number of years an'increasing "tendency to market food products in transparent wrappers not only to expose the contents to view but 'because such packages have `a considerable .Visual appeal. Many items `of food are now marketedin cello phane or waxed paper Wrappers; There are machines available for wrapping bread, cake and other food products-in cellophane or waxed paper, but these machines are :so lconstructedand operated Vthat the wrapperis rather loosely applied. Such `machines cannot, for example, Wrap food products with a Atightly fitting outer 'Wrapperbut such a loose wrappingfis `not suitable 'or 'desirable for 'spaghetti and similar products, Aas 4is wellrecognized by thoseffamiliar withrthe "packaging of this'product. A'loosc'ly'wrapped package of spaghetti"would'permit qundue breakage ,f

of the sticks'of spaghettiandcwould.permit substantial misalignment ofthe-parallel piled vspaghetti sticks. `A looselyfwrappedpackage of'spaghetti also permits Jthe "ends of the sticks --to break through the wrapper, wthus `destroying ithe ritarketability` thereof and 7also rendering the saine unsightly -and insanitary. Consequently, so far as I am aware, it Ihas -notf-heretofo-re been possible to produce a'tightly'wrapped'package of spaghetti` on Yany existing `machine ydespite the fact that such is highly desirable.

It is, accordinglyfone-eflthe objects of 'this invention to provide for the first time -amachine which is capable Aof forming tightiy wrapped packages vof spaghetti -in which the cuter mwrapper is composed of 'transparentwmaterial, such as cellophane or waxedfpaper."

It is another object Yof this invention to modify existing loose-wrap machines -employed for-'the wrapping of `breadand `cake in -such lmanner that a tight outer wrapperf-of cellophane yor `waxed paper can be "applied-tospaghetti tojpro'duce a highly attractive, marketablejpackage.

A `further object of the'invention resides in a Amachine for producing atightly Wrappedpackage of spaghetti, `the outer wrapper Yof-Whichis composed of cellophane orwaxed paper soapplied that it maintainstheparallel piled sticks of spaghetti. in substantially immovable condition.

BGlams. (01.153-111) .A still further object of the invention com.- prises va spaghetti wrapping machine constructed to apply van outer wrappedrsnugly around a bundle of spaghetti and to fold and seal the ends of the wrapper during the wrapping operation.

Other and still further objects and advantages residein the-various mechanical combinations, sub-combinations and details hereinafter described and claimed and in such other .and further matters as will be understoodror .appreciated by those -skil-ledin this art.

In the accompanying ,drawings wherein Ihave illustrated a `preferred embodiment .of my invention:

Fig. `1 `is a plan viewof abortion vof Aa standard cake Wrapping machine to .Whichmyinvention has been-applied;

Fig. 2 is ,a longitudinaLNertical sectional yview taken alongline .2-.2 ,of Figlll; y

Fig. f3 is a view :similar to Fig.12' but with `the parts in a different condition of operation;

Fig. 4 is a sectional View, partly in elevation, taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 isa perspective viewoi certain of `the operating parts of the machine showing an outer wrapper about tobe applied to ahundle of snaghetti sticks;

Fig. 6 is a View similar tollifig. 5pt the ,next successive stagein .the .operation of'formingthe package showing .the bundle of Spaghti .lllS after .the initial phase of the .wrapping operation;

Fig. v'7 vis a' View similar Ytolig. 6 showing a further stage ofthe ,wrapping operation;

Fig. 8. shows .the wrapping .cneraticncompleied except for the vnal folding-pndergpi the ends of the Wrapper and Fig. 9 shows, perspective, ,one end-cfa im ished package looking "from underneath the same.

Prior jto the use V and operation of jthe ina chine constituting the fpresent invention, certain `pr eIiminary Steps are carried out which comprise gathering a, `plurality'j of V,sticks of spaghetti of -approximat'ely` equalleneths.andpilng them in parallel aligned relationShip'` to provide a unit weight of ADrcc1etcfrlrlintsi amount. Suchas I2 02.111" ,1 1lb. .The .duantitynfisuaehett which "is .desired .toghe ,includedina package" iS then encircled by a central hand whichis-nlaccd tightly therearound .t0 ,form [thesticks` of spaghetti into a ,bundle of spaghetti 1| 0.. .This Central Vencircling band. serves to minimizeor reduce subsequent.,I'.flaLti/e` movement of the sticks of spaghetti'but cannot entirely eliminate the same. It also acts to form a unit adapted for wrapping purposes. This central encircling band is preferably composed of a transparent material such as cellophane or waxed paper, the ends of which are suitably secured or sealed by a solvent or adhesive or by heat or in any other known or suitable manner. The bundle of spaghetti so produced is then inserted into a (cardboard) supporting and protective element having upstanding ends l2. The bundle of spaghetti has one side resting on element II, the ends |2 of which cover the ends of the bundle of spaghetti. The bundle of spaghetti and the element II, sometimes called a cardboard boat, are fed to the machine in which the outer tightlyfitting wrapper of cellophane or waxed paper I3 is applied, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth. The initial gathering and weighing of the spaghetti sticks and the formation thereof into a bundle for subsequent Wrapping purposes as well as the application of the outer Wrapper can be carried out by hand. The construction of the nished package and the procedure for producing the same independently of any particular machine do not per se form part of this invention but constitute the subject-matter of copending application Serial Number 1,079, filed January 8, 1948, by A. Z. Vermylen for Spaghetti Package and Method of Producing the Same.

In applying the cellophane or waxed paper outer wrapper |3 to the bundle of spaghetti consisting of a group of spaghetti sticks with the central encircling band, such bundles are successively fed as by a large grooved or slotted feeding drum or wheel (not shown) or by any other suitable means to the feed table |4 of the wrapping machine, whichfin this case, is a standard Oliver 799` cake wrapping machine which has been modified pursuant to the present invention. Such a bundle is indicated by the numeral l5 and is shown in Figs. 2 and 3, being moved by the spaced cross bars I6 of endless conveyor chains I1 onto the vertically movable platform I8 of the machine proper, the platform being at this time in its lowermost position. The end of the feeding table I4 is somewhat spaced from platform I8 and in the intervening space the sprocket wheels vI9 are mounted on and turn with the horizontal shaft which is turned by chains I1. The chains |1 pass over such sprocket wheels and over other sprocket wheels (not shown) to form an endless chain and are suitably driven at any desired or convenient point. Also mounted on shaft 20 are the smaller sprocket wheels 2|. Sprocket chains 22 pass around sprocket wheels 2| and also around sprocket wheels 23, which are mounted on a shaft 24. Sprocket chains 22 carry ngers 25, as shown. It will be appreciated that, as the bundle of spaghetti to be wrapped cornes to the end of feed table I4, one set of the fingers 25 propels the said bundle onto the platform I8 of the modified Oliver machine preparatory to applying the outerwrapper thereto, said fingers operating in slots 26 provided for that purpose in the feed table.

The platform |8 on which the bundle of spaghetti above referred to is received is mounted for vertical movement. This is accomplished by connecting platform I8 to a wrapper-receiving surface 21 by means of uprights 28. The wrapper-receiving surface 21 has depending plates or skirts 29 at its ends which are provided with trunnions 30 which are adapted to move upwardly and downwardly in the channel frames 3|, such movements being imparted to members 29 by means of one or more links 32 eccentrically pivoted to said member. Appropriate upward and downward movements at predetermined intervals are imparted to surface 21 via. link 32 from other moving parts of the machine which effect such movements in synchronism with the remaining machine movements to be described. A guide plate 33 having an upturned lip 34 is mounted in vertical spaced relationship over surface 21 for a purpose which will be hereinafter explained.

The cellophane or waxed paper |3 which is to be used for wrapping purposes is fed into the machine as a continuous strip along the upper surface of the wrapper feed table 36, being moved along by the conveyor belt 35, which also serves to keep the wrapping material in fiat. unwrinkled condition. At the inner end of table 36 is a block 31 which is secured in place in the position shown, spaced sufficiently above the end of table 36 to permit the wrapping material to pass between it and the table. The inner (right hand in Figs. 2 and 3) vertical surface of block 31 is provided with the stationary member 38 of a cutting or shearing device, the movable portion 39 of which is secured to the bar 40 at the distal end of the rod 4I, which is pivotally secured as at 42 to a stationary part of the machine framework, such as 43. Rod 4| has an arcuate depending arm 44 terminating in a journaled roller 45 which is adapted to follow the profile of the cam 46, which is rotatably mounted on a stub shaft 41. The profile of cam 46 is shown as being in the form of a smooth cylinder except that that at one point it has a protuberance 48 extending radially outwardly so as to form a means for raising the movable portion of the cutter into cutting relationship with the stationary portion thereof to sever the sheet or strip of wrapping material when the cam protuberance 48 is in contact with the roller 45. Rod'4I isv normally springurged into inoperative or non-cutting position by means of a spring 49, one end of which is secured to the rod 50 and the other end of which is secured at 5I to a stationary part of the machine. The cutting and non-cutting positions of these members are clearly shown at the left central portions of Figs. 2 and 3, respectively.

It will be noted from Fig. 2in particular, that platform I8 and table I4 are in horizontal alignment when the platform is in its lowermost position. As the bundle of spaghetti in the cardboard boat moves onto platform I8, under the impetus of fingers 25, said bundle of spaghetti pushes laterally against a severed sheet of wrapping material which has been cut off during the previous cycle of the machine and fed through the throat between surface 21 and guide plate 33 to a holding mechanism, indicated as a Whole by the numeral 52 (Figs. 5 and 6). From Fig. 5 it will be appreciated that one end of the severed sheet of wrapping material |3 is held in such holding mechanism but-that the other end thereof is still between surface 21 and` guide plate 33 so that there is an intermediate portion of the wrapper material which extends vertically across the path of travel of the bundle of spaghetti. As the bundle pushes against such intermediate portion in moving onto the platform I8, the wrapping material is bent around the bundle of spaghetti and, as the latter continues to move (to the left), it draws the lower end of the sheet of wrapping material out of its previously recited 5 position between '-the Surface 21 and the 'guide plate 33 and causes it to assume-a predetermined position -Abeneath lthe bundle of spaghetti when the latter has been moved completely Vonto the platform I8 as 'shown-inFigQZ. Asit moves onto the platform I8 the `bundle of spaghetti is engaged by the dog A53, whichextends-l'engthwise of the platform and is sli'dablymo'unted thereon. The movement of the dog underthe influence of the-moving bundle of spaghetti isl 'yieldingly resisted by the thickened ends 4 of 'the 've'rti'c'al bars which are pivotal-1y and hingedly mo'un'ted on the `pintles 56 `carried -by the-angle plates 51, the Vlower ends of which are suitably secured' to said-platform I8. The vertical bars-Ei'are co'nstantly urged toward the incoming bundle 'of spaghetti by siiirings` A53 helicall'y surrounding cores 59, one 'end of Eeach of which iss'ec'ured to one of said plates 51. The'tension of the springs is so adjusted as not to 'fo'r'ce the 4bundle lback off the table once it has cleared the fingers `25,but is -sunicient to insure that the dog 53 presses against the bundle with enough force A"to-prevent the lower end ofthe wrapper from being drawn farther along between the dog and the bundle. In addition to its functions-of holdinglthe wraper snugly against the side of the bundle and vpreventing further relative movement `vof the lower end of the wrapper with respect tothe bundle on'c'e the bundle and-the cardboard boat II `ha've been positioned on theplatform, the dog also acts to bring about realignment of any of the spaghetti sticks that may have become turned slightly laterally with respect tothe length of the bundle `during the feeding of the "bundle to the wrapping station. As the 'platform |f8 `moves upwardly, 'the remainder vof the sheet is gradually bent around down over the upper surfaces of the bundle Vof spaghetti from the oblique position shown in Figs. 2 and 6 until the other end of the sheet of wrapping material is pushed under the cardboard boat vand overlaps the 'end of the 'sheet which has already been lplaced thereunder `as above explained.

YIn order to insure a snug and tight'iitof the wrapping material -around the bundleA of s'paghetti, one end of the sheet I 3 'is held in the holding `device 52 previously referred to 'during the commencement of the wrapping operation and continuing substantiallythroughout the completion thereof. This-holding mechanism includes va plate til, a vertically movable link 6I, a connecting link 62, a pivotall-y movable member 63 and spacedrollersSA carried thereby. Theplate' is secured to a stationary portion of the machine in horizontal alignment with'the table '36 along which the wrapping material is fed vprior to its severance into sheets and in `horizontal alignment with the surface 2l when it is in'itsu'ppermost position. This'r'elationship is clearly shown in Fi'gf. Consequently, it will be understood that each severed sheet of wrapping material is fed through the throatfbetween'surface 21and guide plate 33 onto plate eiland thatat such time the holding mechanism'is `in inoperative position, as also shown in Fig. 3. Then, whenlsveranceof a particular 'sheet has beenV completedand surface 2'! begins to move downwardly, the holding mechanism is caused to-operate through the agency of the'vertical link'l, the `upper end ofwhich has one end of connecting link 62-'pivoted thereto. The 'other end of linkfEZ is rigidly connected to the'pivoted memb'erl 63. When surface-Z'I- begins to move downwardly; vertical link F'BI isV also caused to move downwardly,thuslactuating'the linkage described tofbr-ing the rollers '64 (only one of the two rollers being 'visible fin-this 'iigure) into the position shown-in F-i'g.' 2 fin which they are in 'firm contaet with fthe wrapping material adjacent the end thereof. The rollers B4 are. preferablyV made of hard fiber Aor rubber surfaced. Thus the Wrappingmaterial is-held V"with-sufficient force to insure vthat the wrappingmaterial does not slip orflbeco'me slack but remains under sunicient tension --to provide avsmooth fit which tightly covers -thebundle of spaghetti. As shown in Figs. 2, 5 4 and `6, 'the member-63, when in its loweredposition,substantially fills vthe .space between the `plate `{ill-'and an idle'r'oller 1U,to be further described. In this-'position the 'member B3 not only carries 'the rollers 64 i'n'toholding p'osition with respect vto 'the end-of the wrapper, but also functions to prevent vany of Vthe spaghetti sticks from moving laterally into the space beneath the roller l0 and becomingl broken or causing the wrapper to tear.

It will be appreciated that, a's the bundle fof spaghetti on its car-board boat 4moves onto platform IB against dog 53, end tuckers-form a lateral fold Se at each `end of the bundle of spaghetti, as will be clearly understood frOmFigS. 6 and 8. Each such tucker comprises alhorizontal guide bar 66 held at one end in a slotted support 6'! which is suitably secured to 'the'platform I8. It will be clearly appreciated thatfas the bundle of spaghetti moves against dog 53 each of the guide bars 66 causes Athe wrapping'material to be bent over and held down to constitute a fold, the exact nature of which is illustratedin Fig. 8, for example. After this is accomplished, the platform IS moves upwardly `and. La's it does so, the sheet of wrapping material becomes wrapped around the upper (convex) surfaces of 'the bundle of spaghetti, the` weightlof `the bundle of spaghetti and the pressure of the dog 53 being adequate to prevent the end of vthe sheet 'already thereunder from becoming displaced. This action continues as the platform I8 moves upwardly until ultimately the uppermost vposition is reached, Vas shownin Fig.3, at which time the upper surface of the package is brought into contact with a vpair yof inverted U-shaped holders 68 which are carried by depending arms 80 of yoke Se'. The holders V68 Atake control of further movement of the package and maintain the wrapping material-held down in its snugly fitting position about the bundle of spaghetti sticks.

Due to a reciprocating carriage mechanism to be hereinafter described, the 'partially wrapped package of spaghetti now-begins 'to move from left to` right and thedog 53 becomes a follower, sliding along under the influence of bracket plates 55, as the incompletely wrapped package of spaghetti is gradually propelled over onto the plated 69, which is mounted on a stationary part of the machine above previously recited plate 6B. It -will be further noted that an idle roller "I0, having intermediate raised friction bands or surfaces 'I0', is journaled tothe machine frame $30 adjacent one end of plate 69 and that one end of a bell crank lever 1| pivoted'at 'I2 is positioned 'adjacent 'the idle roller T0. The other end of the bell crank lever 1I, which is substantially in the form of a right angle, is connected to the upper end of the long vertical link '13, the other-end of which is suitably actuated by a moving part of the'mac'hine, as will be understood, and the timed relationship of 'theactuation of saidlong vertical link "I3 isfsuch that, as the-in- 69, theprojecting end of bell crankv lever 1 I moves in a counterclockwise directionuntil it contacts idle roller 10, vthus preventing the same from rotating. Consequently, the end ofthe sheet of wrapping material is frictionally held or its movementis retarded duringa part of the leftto-right movement of the incompletely wrapped package suicient to maintain the wrapping sheet in snug land tight relationship with Vthe spaghetti and until said end of the sheet is brought beneath the carboard boat Il in overlapping relationship With the other end of the wrapping material which is already in place, as previously described. The idle roller is promptlyk thereafter released so that it can turn and act as a support for the package as the latter continues to move over the space between platform I8 and plate 69. As the now enclosed bundle of spaghetti moves from left to right (Figs. 2 and 3), a pair of tuckers 14 forms another fold similar to the one 65 originally made but in the opposite direction, so that the ends of the package appear as shown in Fig. 8. The mechanism, to be further described, controlling the movement of the inverted U-shaped holders 68 now causes them and the wrapped package of spaghetti to continue to move toward and eventually into the heating or sealing unit designated as a whole by the numeral 16. As the package is moved toward unit 16, a pair of spring metal guides 11 located adjacent unit 16 ride up over the horizontal projecting folded ends of the wrapping material (see Fig. 8), deflect the same downwardly and bend them up under the ends of the package, as will beclearly seen in Fig. 9. The wrapping of the package is now complete and the sticks of spaghetti are maintained in an immobilized condition. The package then passes on into the unit 16, Vwhich is provided with any suitable sealing or heating means, such as steam pipes or electrical heating coils when heat sealing is to be effected, so that the ends of the wrapping material are heat-sealed or otherwise secured in the position `shown in Fig. 9. As more particularlyy described hereinafter, the inverted U- shaped holders 68 are tripped and disengage themselves from the package, following which they are returned to their initial position ready for another cycle.V The package is caused to move out of the heater and onto a discharge conveyor 18 under the inuence of the pushers 92 simultaneously with the next forward movement of the holders 68. The discharge conveyor 18 carries the successive completed packages to a suitable point of discharge.

The inverted U-shaped holders `68 are integral or unitary with the rdepending arms 89 of the yoke 89. The yoke 89' is supported adjacent its mid-portion by the distal ends of the pair of arms 8| that are respectively mounted for pivotal movement about the pintles 82 carried on the opposite sides of the tubular sleeve 84 which reciprocates along the bar 83. Also con.

nected to the distal ends of the pivoted arms 8| is the tripping device 19, which extends first horizontally from its connection with arms 8| and then upwardly at a relatively small angle to the horizontal.

Sleeve 84 is provided with two upstanding brackets 85, the lower flanged ends of which are secured to said sleeve. These brackets establish a connection with a carriage which includes a pair of trapezoidally shaped end frames 86 connected together by rods 86 and 86". These rods are positionedbetween the brackets 85 so that.

under the influence of the vreciprocating chain 81, which is connected to the lower end of the carriage, the entire carriage reoiprocates between the full and dotted line positions shown in Fig. 3. The 1ower end of the carriage is provided with stub shafts 88 carrying rollers 88 which reciprocate within the xed guide rails 89 attached to the side frames-90 or other suitable stationary supporting members. A pair of longitudinally extending bars 91 terminating in the downwardly extending pushers 92 are supported intermediate the end frames 86 of the carriage and the central bar 83. The pushers 92 are pivoted at 92 to the bars 9| so that they may be rotated in a counterclockwise direction only, as viewed in Figs. 2 and 3, thus permitting them to pass over a package positioned at the heating station as they are returned to initial position with the carriage.

As the carriage moves from left to right (Fig. 3) carrying with it the yoke 8D and the holders 68, the pushers 92 are likewise advanced and serve to propel the package previously deposited at the sealing station 16 onto the discharge conveyor 18 at the same time as the next package is brought to the sealing station 15 by the holders 68. When the carriage has travelled a suflicient distance to bring such next package to the sealing station 19 and the previous package has been transferred to the conveyor 18, the pivoted arms 8l, carrying the yoke 80' and the holders 68, are moved upwardly about their pivot points on the sleeve 84 sufficiently to insure that they will clear the package then positioned at the sealing station 1S on the movement of the carriage. This pivoting movement is brought about by means of a roller 93 supported on the arm 94 connected to the rotatable shaft 95. The shaft 95 carries a sprocket wheel 96 actuated by sprocket chain 91 and the construction and arrangement of these parts are such that the arm 94 carrying the roller 93 continuously rotates with the shaft 95 in a clockwise direction. Thus as shown in Fig. 3 in relationship to the dotted line representation of the sliding sleeve and package holding assembly, the arm 94 rotates in a clockwise direction in timed relation to the movements of the carriage. thus bringing the roller 93 beneath the tripping finger 19 and, as the arm 94 continues to rotate, the roller lifts the yoke 89 and the associated holders 68 while pivoting the supporting arms 8l about their pivot/points 82. When the package holding and ejecting assembly has moved back sufficiently toward its full line position of Fig. 3 to clear the package positioned at the sealing station, the roller becomes disengaged thus permitting the inverted U-shaped holders to drop down into their full line position ready to engage the next package and to repeat the cycle just described seriatim. As previously indicated, the one-way pivoted connection of the pushers 92 to the arms 9i permits these pushers, in the return movement, to pivot and pass over the package l5 that has just been brought to the heating station.

It has not been deemed necessary to illustrate or describe the remaining parts of the machine since they are the usual parts found in a machine of the type above referred to vand are per se known and -do-not form a part of this invention. The invention rather comprises aforementioned modications of, and additions to, an Oliver 799 cake wrapping vmachine or any of various other known forms or types of wrapping machine adapted toform a basis for the present invention. It is to be understood, however, that the modifications and ,additions to any such machine.

which are herein described and claimed, are presented as exemplary of the invention and not as limitative, since within the scope of the invention various changes may 4be made without departing from the spirit or principles hereof. The invention is rather that defined by the appended claims.

The term spaghetti, as employed in this application, covers other edible and inedible materials having the form or shape of sticks of spaghetti and is to be so understood.

I claim:

1. In a machine for Wrapping bundles of banded spaghetti, a platform for supporting a bundle of spaghetti to be wrapped, means for reciprocating said platform vertically between a loading position to an unloading position, means for supplying wrappers, means cooperating with said platform and operating in timed relation with the movements thereof to apply one of said wrappers around said bundle, said wrapping means including means for imposing tension on said wrapper to bring said wrapper into snugly fitting relation with said bundle, a holder having a lower surface conforming to the upper and lateral surfaces of said bundle means including a pivotable arm for supporting said holder and positioning the same at the unloading position of said platform, said holder being adapted to hold the wrapper in closely fitting engagement with said bundle when the platform has been brought into its unloading position, means for reciprocating said holder horizontally between the unloading position of said platform and a sealing station, and means cooperating with said holder-supporting means for pivoting said holder upwardly away from contact with said bundle when the bundle has been brought to the sealing station and for maintenance of said holder in such raised position until the holder has been returned toward said unloading station.

2. In a machine for wrapping bundles of banded spaghetti, a platform for supporting a bundle of spaghetti to be wrapped, means for moving said platform vertically from a loading position to an unloading position, means for supplying wrappers, means cooperating with said platform and operating in timed relation with the movements thereof to apply one of said wrappers around said bundle, said wrapping means including means for imposing tension on said Wrapper to bring said wrapper into snugly fitting relation with said bundle, an inverted U-shaped holder, means for supporting said holder and positioning the same at the unloading position of said platform, said holder being adapted to hold the wrapper in closely tting engagement with said bundle when the platform has been brought of spaghetti previously deposited at said sealing station away from said station as the next package is brought thereto by said holder, and means cooperating with said holder for moving said holder out of line ywith the package positioned at said sealing station and to maintain said holder in raised position until it has cleared said sealing station in its return movement and a one way hinge support for said pusher arm to permit it to pass over a package at the sealing station during its .return movement.

3. In a machine for wrapping bundles of banded spaghetti, a platform for supporting a bundle of spaghetti to be wrapped, means for moving said platform vertically from a loading position to an unloading position, means for supplying sheets of wrapping material, means cooperating with said platform and operating vin timed relation with the movements thereof to apply one of said sheets around said bundle, said wrapping means including a first stationary horizontal plate mounted above said loading position and adjacent the path of movement of the platform between said loading and unloading positions and a second stationary horizontal plate mounted above said first stationary plate, a b'ar of substantial width, means supporting said bar for pivotal movement about an axis extending longitudinally of the 'bar adjacent one edge thereof and parallel to and between said plates and spaced from said first plate, rollers carried by said bar at the edge thereof opposite said axis, and means for rotating said bar about said axis between a rst substantially vertical position in which said rollers cooperate with said rst plate to grip said wrapping material for tensioning the same and in which said bar backs up the sheet of wrapping material being applied to the bundle to prevent puncture of said sheet by a stick of spaghetti projecting toward said space, and a second position in which said rollers release said material.

MATTHEW KLIMAS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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